Question
Recently, I heard a person teaching that the Passover lamb would have its feet anointed with oil six days before Passover. Then it’s head anointed with oil 2 days before Passover. They reference Exo 12. But the only thing I find in Exo 12 seams to contradict that idea. On the 10th of the month to pick and bring the lamb in, then on the 14th day is Passover. This would make it hard to anoint the lambs feet 6 days before Passover. Is there a tradition I do not know about or is there something in Lev. That speaks to this 6 days and 2 days before idea. I have never heard of anything like this.

Question
I have looking up all the holy days we are commanded to observe and I do not understand how to do them. For example, NUMBERS28:26-31 the feast of weeks, NUMBERS 29:1-6 a sacred occasion, NUMBERS 29:7-11 a sacred occasion, NUMBERS 29:12-39 a sacred occasion,a festival of the LORD. All of these holy days require certain sacrifices but only a Levite priest can offer sacrifices and only at the temple in Israel. How do I observe them. Also NUMBERS10:2-6 is the reference I found for the feast of trumpets but these verse never specifically refer to it as the feast of trumpets and only a Levite preist is allowed to blow the trumpets. So how can this command be observed. Also LEVITICUS 23:33-43 the feast of booth is never written on the jewish calender I have and neither is the feast of unleavened bread which is to be the day after passover.LEVITICUS23:4-8 and NUMBERS 28:16-25 .please help me understand.

Question
1 Kings 6:23-27 KJV - 23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims [of] olive tree, [each] ten cubits high. 24 And five cubits [was] the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other [were] ten cubits. 25 And the other cherub [was] ten cubits: both the cherubims [were] of one measure and one size. 26 The height of the one cherub [was] ten cubits, and so [was it] of the other cherub. 27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the [one] wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.   Trying to understand this correctly. According to this scripture these cherubim were in the Holy of Holies (?) in addition to the “Ark of the Covenant”.   two cherubim of wild olive wood, each 15 feet tall placed them in the inner sanctuary (assume this was the Holy of Holies?) The wingspan of each of the cherubim was 15 feet (Total wingspan of both 30 ft) He placed them side by side in the inner sanctuary of the Temple Their outspread wings reached from wall to wall their inner wings touched at the center of the room   NOTE: I realize a cubit varies due to historical changes of that measurement but not really that much. I used a royal cubit because it was stated it was typically used in ancient construction.   Using a “Royal Cubit” 19.8 to 20.6 for the height of each cherub = 19.8” X 10 Cubits = 198” divided 12 = 16 ½ Feet Tall Using a “Royal Cubit” 19.8 to 20.6 for one wing tip to tip of a cherub = 19.8” X 10 Cubits = 198” divided 12 = 16 ½ Feet X 2 cherubs = 33 feet wide for the wing span of both cherubs standing wing tip to wing tip   8 QUESTIONS???????? Do you agree these cherubim had to be approximately 16 ½ feet tall and both cherubs wings as they were standing side by side would be 33 ft?   If this is true wouldn’t these cherubs had to have been in the inner house in addition to the cherubs on the mercy seat of the “Ark of the Covenant”? I can’t imagine how the Ark of the Covenant could have been moved with cherubim of this size being part of it. How could the Jewish people been able to transport the “Ark of the Covenant” into battle marching (Jericho) or from place to place if the cherubim described here were on the Ark and not in addition to them in the inner room?   I “think” these cherubim had to be in the inner room in addition to the cherubim on “The Ark of the Covenant” but want your decision based on this scripture.   Is the inner room the Holy of Holies that was in the temple? I assume it is but want to be sure this is true.   1 Chronicles 28:18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out [their wings], and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.   Note: If the cherubim in 1 Kings 6:23-27 KJV above were in addition to the Ark their wings would have covered the ark of the covenant also.   Why in this passage are the cherubim referenced as the pattern of “the chariot of the cherubim”? Isn’t this totally different and separate from the pattern of the ark?   1 Kings 8:7 KJV - 7 For the cherubims spread forth [their] two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.   Note: Doesn’t this passage state the cherubim wings in 1 Kings 6:23-27 KJV spread their wings over the place of the ark?   Exodus 25:20 NKJV - 20 "And the cherubim shall stretch out [their] wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim [shall be] toward the mercy seat. Note: The cherubim for the mercy seat faced each other and were not stretched out wing tip to wing tip as the cherubim in 1 Kings 6:23-27 and this alone should prove that they are in addition to the pattern of the cherubim on the ark because they face in a different direction.    

Question
It is becoming a global norm, at least in the West, that marriage should not be legal for any person under 18 years of age. This global (Western) standard is based on various practical and moral concerns. In Judaism it was customary for at least 1000 years during the Middle Ages to marry the girls very early in teenage. (I don't know if average marrying ages are known for the more ancient times, long before the Middle Ages.) As there is such a vast amount of experience on the practice, one wonders if Jews encountered and documented any of the perceived modern practical or moral risks becoming reality. For example, there is a belief that having children in teenage is risky for the mother. I wonder if statistical information exists (or discussion about the topic in Medieval times), from which it would be possible to assess any excess mortality (or lack thereof) related to Jews marrying very young. Or do the historical records look like everything was OK, and girls marrying very young had no such adverse effects, which would have been noticed and documented by anyone?

Question
Shalom Rabbi. Isaiah 52:1 says: "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Tzion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Yerushalaim, the "holy" city: for henceforth there shall "no" more "come" into thee the " uncircumcised " and the "unclean." This scriptural verse doesn't describe the " earthly" Jerusalem visited by millions of tourists every year. Today's Jerusalem is indulgent, lenient and compliant. This is a far cry from the term "holy" city. It is home to many "unchaste," "unclean," "uncircumcised " inhabitants. So why does the world believe that is the "holy" haven of Hashem? This is the ultimate conundrum. Rabbi, is it possible that Tzion is a "Spiritual" city? Erected of even "spiritual stones," sanctified sons and daughters, consecrated tabernacles, reflecting Hashem's "glory"? Respectfully, Yishrah

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Hi. What do you think about Job? Was he a prophet? Islam says yes, Catholics say he’s a folktale. Certainly he is at least a priest in the end, yes? How does the language it was written in compare to other examples of ancient Hebrew? Was Job a descendant of Abraham, or did he predate him? Speaking of Abraham, when God tells him to kill the son he loves, was God expecting him to take Ishmael, and is Abraham testing God back by bringing the miraculous child to the sacrifice? Thanks!

Question
Dear Rabbi, Shalom. I saw something unusual in a dream last night. There was a table with bread and wine on it and the name Malkitzedek was written on the table. I sort of recall there being a story about Melchizedek and Abraham in the Torah. But who was he and what does that image in my dream mean for me?

Question
I recently had a scary experience. I got a flat tire and stopped at the first tire shop I could find to get it fixed. I was in a rural area, far from any Jewish population. I was the only customer there at the time. Two men who appeared in their forties were working there. As they were changing my tire, the men were having a lively conversation in which they were saying some vicious antisemitic things. They sounded so hateful in the way they were talking. They were describing conspiracies blaming Jews for problems in this world. I wasn’t dressed in a manner that screamed Jew. I had on a polo shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap. And I do not have an identifiably Jewish name or look. They had no clue that I, a Jew, was in their presence as they were mouthing away. I was relieved to have my tire changed and be out of that place, hopefully never to go near there again. My one regret was not secretly videotaping it to show others and expose them. I truly believe that one who behaves like this cannot sincerely apologize for their feelings or actions. They can only feel sorry for the consequences they might face if caught. What is the appropriate way to act when faced with this predicament? Should one stay safe and keep quiet and hope to not get noticed? Or be brave and speak up about being Jewish and confront them? I wanted to be safe and I chose the first option.

Question
My maternal great grandmother called herself Rosa Schmidt, but she was actually of Lithuanian Jewish descent according to DNA from my mother. Is there any way to match Jewish DNA to Jewish Lithuanian surnames? Rosa Schmidt had a colorful past and there must have been a reason why she hid her identity. She came to the U.S. from Swilno, Russland in 1892. According to my aunt, she was a prostitute in Cleveland when she met my grandmother's father, a one-legged night watchman. She settled with him in Chicago, bringing with her a daughter. Rose had 4 more children before she died in 1916.